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Dominican Preaching in Action Students from Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine wash feet of homeless in spirit of Holy Week  Miami Shores, Fla. -- In the
spirit of the Easter holiday and Holy Week, more than 20 students
and podiatric physicians from Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine turned out
to provide foot care and wash the feet of the homeless at the Miami
Rescue Mission/Broward Outreach Center’s second annual “Thanksgiving
in March” event on Friday, March 21.More than 1,000 people showed up to the event, which has proven
to be enormously popular, according to Marilyn Brummitt, director
of community development for Miami Rescue Mission, Inc/Broward
Outreach Centers, who noted that the mission also gave away more
than 2,000 pair of socks, nearly 600 Easter baskets and 1500 HOPE
Totes filled with hygiene products.
The staff at the mission,
she noted, came up with idea because they wanted to do something
in addition to offering meals and felt washing feet in the tradition
of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet
at the Last Supper would be a good idea and a symbol of humility. “It’s
an incredibly moving event to witness,” she said, noting
that Barry students washed feet and provided foot care at the mission’s
three South Florida locations in Miami, Hollywood and Pompano Beach.
Dr. Chet Evans, dean of Barry’s
School of Podiatric Medicine, added that while the spirit of
the event is incredibly uplifting, it also provides an excellent
opportunity for those who might not ordinarily be able to receive
podiatric medical care. Students and podiatric physicians tended
to the feet of the attendees by filing down nails, buffering
off calluses and treating foot fungi with iodine.
“People who are homeless have other things than foot care
on their mind, so often they don’t realize they have a problem
until it’s too late and their feet really start to hurt,” said
Dr. Oghale Eleyae, the 2007-2008 Sports Fellow at Barry University’s
School of Podiatric Medicine.
Diana Rogers, a fourth-year student and
the 2008 class president, added that receiving proper foot care
could perhaps serve as a catalyst for change in other areas of
a person’s life.“After
they get their feet washed, they might feel like it’s a brand
new day for them. Maybe they can take that next step and start
coming in here to Miami Rescue Mission, and maybe after that, going
and helping someone else,” Rogers said.
The spirit of community service and compassion
symbolized by the event is a hallmark of Barry University
and one that the podiatric medical students will continue to
carry with them long after they graduate, noted Dean Evans.
“The Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine was
grateful to have the opportunity to provide foot washing and foot
care for the many homeless in Miami-Dade and Broward counties through
the Miami Rescue Mission,” Evans said. “This
is an important mission that we carry in our hearts every day to
help the needy and as part of our heritage of community service
at Barry University.”
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